{"id":2836,"date":"2012-07-12T09:38:41","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T13:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2836"},"modified":"2012-07-16T07:00:49","modified_gmt":"2012-07-16T11:00:49","slug":"ready-for-valor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/ready-for-valor.html","title":{"rendered":"Ready for valor"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Most people who become true heroes don’t prepare their entire lives to be put into that position. \u00a0When they are born, the parents don’t look at their precious infant and say, “This little will one day be a true American hero.” \u00a0It never entered my mind as a young woman that one of my three children could become the object of national pride. \u00a0I wasn’t thinking that I must prepare him or her for that day.\u00a0\u00a0I was concerned about how to best feed this tiny person.<\/p>\n

Heroes happen through great acts of valor and strength of character. \u00a0I’m sure someone has done extensive research regarding how heroes are made. \u00a0However, we don’t have to read an academic study to marvel at men like Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ, who raced into a burning building and saved a woman from a fiery death.<\/p>\n

In studying the Apostles Paul’s mission adventures in the past months, I’ve been struck by this faith hero’s stamina, faithfulness and willing spirit. \u00a0Chased from one city, Paul doesn’t tuck in his mantle and pout for a few months. \u00a0He goes to the next city, while recognizing that his treatment will be the same once he is labeled a “trouble maker” by the Jewish leadership.<\/p>\n

As I traveled cross country last month, I was struck by the young men and women I encountered in various airports who are sacrificing years of their lives to help secure our safety. \u00a0Whether you agree with the wars that are currently being waged or not, we must acknowledge that their valor is humbling. \u00a0For them there are years of training and preparation. \u00a0Especially in the Army, you prepare and wait. \u00a0When you are on the field of battle you understand that your life and the lives of your comrades are at risk. \u00a0You also understand that you are fighting for the millions of people back home who are eating popsicles and watching TV. \u00a0Once you are back home, you prepare for the next battle and wait.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ben Sherwood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While no one deliberately trains their children to become heroes, there are things which will bring that hero spirit to the forefront. \u00a0Here a four of those things:<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Training. \u00a0In the book, The\u00a0Survivor’s Club<\/em>, the author Ben Sherwood, writes about the importance of anticipating and imagining the action you would take should there be an emergency. \u00a0This is what training does for the firefighter, policeman and soldier. \u00a0We, too, can train our minds to think in those arenas. \u00a0Likewise, we can train our children to think creatively regarding emergencies.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Building character. \u00a0It does not matter what the norms of society dictate. \u00a0Right is still right and wrong is still wrong. \u00a0Character building is teaching a person to have true values in the issue of right and wrong. \u00a0While the shifting sands of time and culture change, the Biblical values remain the basis for true character strength.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Keeping our bodies fit with daily exercise and good foods. \u00a0In living with a person who had increasing physical disabilities, I found that while his heart was that of a hero, he was greatly hampered by his physical limitations. \u00a0Like my husband, there may be little that we can do in some cases. \u00a0But everyone can do their best to keep their bodies in top condition, no matter what our ages.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>4. \u00a0Don’t second-guess your gut reactions in times of stress. \u00a0This is an area where I am constantly on alert because of my impulse to “take the safe roads.” \u00a0While we were traveling in Thailand, a young girl–about 5 years old–stood in the shallow area of a river selling trinkets to the passing boats. \u00a0Seeing us coming, she stepped too close to our boat to show us her wares. The river suddenly dropped, the water swallowed her and she was drowning within seconds.\u00a0 Without thinking, my son, Mark, instantly jumped into the water from the boat and pulled the young girl to the shore. \u00a0His new, expensive camera went with him. \u00a0It was destroyed and all the pictures he had taken of our family time together. \u00a0 However, his gut reaction was correct because the child was rescued.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Don’t let optimism, overcome the reality of the danger. \u00a0 Ben Sherwood, in researching his book, found that people who approach great danger with tremendous optimism almost never survive. \u00a0It appears that overlooking reality too often brings defeat. \u00a0Risk-taking most have boundaries.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0Believe that you can do “one more thing.” \u00a0You don’t have to accomplish the entire feat of valor instantly. \u00a0You simply have to see the next step and do it. \u00a0Heroes may not have the entire picture of what is needed to survive. \u00a0They merely see the next level that must be achieved.<\/p>\n

Whether you are facing life living with a disabled child, or you are ministering to people who are mentally challenged, or you simply must live out your day, you have the makings of a hero. \u00a0The Lord enables us to help inspire and rescue those who are damaged and need the life-giving love of a Savior.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most people who become true heroes don’t prepare their entire lives to be put into that position. \u00a0When they are born, the parents don’t look at their precious infant and say, “This little will one day be a true American hero.” \u00a0It never entered my mind as a young woman that one of my three…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,4,152,268],"tags":[690,21,688,14,7,699,425,715,701,424,19,689,6,725],"class_list":["post-2836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","category-stress","category-survival","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-death-and-dying","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-heroes","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-making-a-hero","tag-mental-retardation","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-survival"],"yoast_head":"\nReady for valor - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/ready-for-valor.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ready for valor - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Most people who become true heroes don’t prepare their entire lives to be put into that position. \u00a0When they are born, the parents don’t look at their precious infant and say, “This little will one day be a true American hero.” \u00a0It never entered my mind as a young woman that one of my three…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/ready-for-valor.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-07-12T13:38:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2012-07-16T11:00:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2012\/07\/cory-booker.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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